IV. Зависть и вражда

“Where there is envy and contentiousness, there is confusion and everything evil” (James 3:16). “If ye bite and devour one another, take heed lest ye be destroyed one another” (Gal. 5:15). “Let us not be conceited, provoke one another, or envy one another” (Gal. 5:26). Envy does not even observe its own benefit (The Tale of Lazarus). An envious person would rather endure endless troubles than to see his neighbor in reverence (The Tale of Lazarus). The eyes of envious people do not see anything sensible (Word 12 against Anomeans). The root of murder is envy (Conversation 54 on the Book of Genesis, chapter 27). Envy does nothing prudently (Conversation 52 on the Book of Genesis, chapter 26). Envy considers the well-being of one’s neighbor to be one’s own disadvantage (Conversation 52 on the Book of Genesis, chapter 26). A hypocrite and an envious person fears more people than God (Conversation 3 on 1 Epistle to Timothy). An envious person is worse than a lover of money (Conversation 31 on 1 Corinthians). It is difficult for the envious to enter heaven, and even before heaven this life is unkind for him (Conversation 31 on 1 Corinthians). Envy, once blinding the mind, does not allow one to look at any good (Conversation 64 on the Evangelist John, chapter 11). Envy is worse than fornication and adultery (Conversation 38 on the Evangelist John, chapter 5). An envious person, wanting to destroy another, destroys himself (Conversation 55 on the Evangelist John, chapter 8). There is no equal evil to envy, not a single one (Conversation 40 on the Evangelist Matthew, chapter 12). Harlots and tax collectors (that is, penitents) enter the kingdom of God; and the envious, who were inside, are cast out (Conversation 40 on the Evangelist Matthew, chapter 12). An envious person harms himself first than the one he envies (Discourse 40 on the Evangelist Matthew, chapter 12). Envy does not allow one to look at what is good, and when it does allow one to look, it is not with the same eyes (Sermon on Daniel the Prophet). Flattery and deceit produce enmity (Discourse 14 on the Epistle to the Ephesians). Let him who has enmity not approach the holy meal (Conversation 20 to the people of Antioch about secret hatred). Our only enemy is the devil (Conversation 20 to the people of Antioch about secret hatred). Envy is sadness about the goodness and well-being of one's neighbor. Tormenting passion! In other sins there is some kind of sweetness, even an imaginary one, but the envious one sins and at the same time suffers. The envious person does what the demon does not do: the demon is jealous only of man, not of the demon, but man is jealous of man. Whoever despises this world and seeks heavenly blessings, this ulcer has no place. Why envy someone in earthly and perishable things who, despising them, seeks heavenly things? The nobleman does not envy the praise of the shoemaker, tailor and other craftsmen, because he has the best praise; So, whoever strives for the eternal does not envy the temporary. (See also in the discussion on contempt for the world, § 27, and on love of one’s neighbor, § 21; for enmity, see in the discussion on reconciliation with one’s neighbor, § 24). You might be interested in: